Excessive use of language

AT the Cheltenham Literary Festival, Michael Brunson asked Michael Heseltine about his post-Westland exchange with Margaret Thatcher: "Isn't it true that you came across one another in the voting lobbies and you said: 'Good evening, Prime Minister'?"

Indignant, Heseltine replied: "Oh no. That would have been excessive use of language. She said: 'Michael'. I said: 'Prime Minister'. That was all."